How does PGD for Sex Selection Work?
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is an option for couples at genetic risk. PGD utilises assisted reproduction technology to stimulate the woman’s ovaries to produce a number of eggs. These eggs are collected and fertilised using the male partner’s sperm. Resulting embryos are cultured in the laboratory and embryo biopsy is performed on Day 3 after egg collection. Embryos that have developed to at least 5 cells are suitable for biopsy. A hole is made in the zona (the outer shell) of the embryo and 1 or 2 cells are removed from the embryo. The cells are tested for the sex chromosomes (X and Y) using Fluorescent In Situ Hybridisation (FISH). Fluorescent dyes are used to tag the sex chromosomes and these show as fluorescent “dots”, indicating the chromosome status of the cell. Additionally, a small number of chromosomes commonly involved in abnormalities in humans (ie: chromosomes 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21 and 22) are also included in the test. Embryos identified with the correct sex (
